Top Springs dancers will compete in Reunion

It was a solo dance battle between the local team and teams from all over South Africa, where points were scored for each dance “round”.

Dance teacher Nicole Anderson and her team, Daniel Ourique, Irisma Wentzel, Sherisa van der Walt, Marouzanne Higgs and Mikyla Miladinovic won the gold medal and qualified to represent SA.

Four of these dancers Daniel, Irisma, Sherisa and dance teacher Nicole were also ranked top solo dancers in SA and qualified to represent SA in solo items as well at the competition from May 5 to 11.

The team will be competing against dancers from Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion Island.

Nicole says there are three overall dance categories, with sub-routines in each category in which they will compete.

The energy style includes hip-hop, slow style and Bhangra.

Bhangra is based on Northern Indian folk dancing, which was modernised in the Bollywood type movies.

Sub routines in the solo Latin American style are cha-cha, samba, pasodoble and jive, and contemporary, jazz, ballet and Spanish dance styles are included in the solo classic.

“This means these dancers are well rounded in various styles of dancing,” says Nicole.

The students will also compete in the solo categories against the representatives of the other countries.

International judges will judge the competition.

During the week in Reunion the team will also attend workshops held by dance teachers from Reunion Island, which will provide the students with another dimension of dance training.

Nicole is proud of the team and says it was great to win the competition.

“We worked very hard and it is a wonderful feeling to see the dancers’ achievements,” she says.

The team feel privileged to be able to represent South Africa and are very excited to go to Reunion.

“We look forward to the trip and I am sure we will all do very well,” she concludes.